MAGNOLIA, Ark. - A 10-8 loss in Friday afternoon's opener was not enough to keep Southern Arkansas out of the win column for the day as senior
Will Richardson singled through the left side with the bases loaded to give the Muleriders a 4-3 win in the nightcap and a split of the home-opening action from Walker Stadium at Goodheart Field. Southern Arkansas and Maryville are scheduled for a noon rubber match on Saturday. Visit
www.MuleriderAthletics.com for updates regarding schedule changes due to weather.
Â
The Muleriders (4-2) combined for 22 hits on the day with six going for extra bases highlighted by game one home runs from
Brandon Nicoll and
Chris Lyles. SAU also drew 18 walks, including a season-high dozen in the victory.
Chris Sutton led with five hits on the day, two walks and two runs scored.
Carter Claerhout notched four hits with a run and an RBI. Nicoll recorded three hits, walked five times and accounted for three RBI. Lyles added three hits, three RBI and two runs scored.
Â
In the win, Southern Arkansas used a timely two-run double off the bat of
Chris Garcia to grab a 3-1 advantage in the third inning and following a game-tying two-run homer by the Saints in the seventh, Richardson won it for the Muleriders in the home half.
Mikel Howell tossed 5.0 innings allowing just three hits, four walks and a run with five strikeouts in the no decision.
Â
In the opener,
Trace Shoup walked in SAU's first run to cut its deficit in half at 2-1 through four and then the Muleriders responded with a four-run frame in the fifth to take a 5-2 lead as RBI singles from Claerhout and Lyles sandwiched a two-run bomb by Nicoll. The Muleriders answered a Saints run in the sixth to carry a 6-3 lead into the seventh where MU struck for seven pre-stretch runs as the Muleriders were forced to use four arms in the inning. The Saints would hold off SAU late as the Muleriders loaded the bases down two runs with just one out in the ninth.
Jeremy Adorno went 5.1 innings scattering seven hits, three runs, two of which were earned, with four strikeouts.
Â